Have you ever wondered what is perfect quarterback rating in NFL or American Football? How is passer rating calculated in NFL?
Quarterback rating is often referred to as passer rating. It is a vital statistic in football. It evaluates a quarterback’s performance as a passer using a standardized formula.
Whether you’re a casual fan or a football enthusiast, understanding this number can give you valuable insight into how well a quarterback performs.
Top successful team depends heavily on their Quarterbacks as they are widely recognized as the backbone of American Football.
In this you will know what is a quarterback rating or most commonly know as the passer rating, how it’s calculated and which NFL players have achieved the coveted perfect quarterback rating in both regular-season and postseason games.
What is a Quarterback Rating?
- A quarterback rating is a numerical measurement of a quarterback’s passing efficiency.
- The NFL introduced this system in 1973 to provide a consistent way to evaluate quarterbacks.
- The rating ranges from 0 to 158.3, with 158.3 being the highest possible score which is also known as the perfect quarterback rating.
What is a Perfect Quarterback Rating?
A perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 represents flawless passing performance.
To achieve this, a quarterback must excel in four key areas:
- A high completion percentage.
- Significant yards gained per attempt.
- Multiple touchdown passes.
- Zero interceptions.
Regular-Season Perfect Ratings
As of the 2024 NFL season, there have been 81 instances of a perfect quarterback rating in regular-season games by 66 players.
Notable quarterbacks who achieved this feat include:
- Ben Roethlisberger: Recorded a perfect passer rating four times during his career.
- Lamar Jackson: Achieved a perfect rating twice in his remarkable 2019 MVP season.
- Peyton Manning: Reached this milestone three times, showcasing his elite efficiency.
- Aaron Rodgers: Known for his incredible accuracy, Rodgers has also earned a perfect rating multiple times.
- Tom Brady: The legendary quarterback reached a perfect rating three times in his career.
Postseason Perfect Quarterback Rating
Achieving a perfect quarterback rating in the postseason is even rarer. At present only four quarterbacks have accomplished this feat in NFL history.
- Terry Bradshaw (Steelers): Delivered a perfect performance in a 1975 playoff game.
- Dave Krieg (Seahawks): Achieved perfection in the 1983 postseason.
- Peyton Manning (Colts): Reached a perfect rating in the 2003 playoffs.
- Don Meredith (Cowboys): Accomplished this feat in a 1967 postseason game.
These postseason performances are particularly significant because they occurred in high-stakes situations.
What is a Good Quarterback Rating?
- While a perfect score is 158.3, a rating above 100 is considered a good quarterback rating.
- This range typically indicates efficient and error-free passing.
- The quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen frequently achieve ratings over 100 in their best games.
How is a Quarterback Rating Calculated?
The quarterback rating formula uses four statistical components:
- Completion Percentage: Measures the accuracy of passes.
- Yards Per Attempt: Reflects the average yards gained per pass attempt.
- Touchdown Percentage: The percentage of passes resulting in touchdowns.
- Interception Percentage: The percentage of passes intercepted.
If you’re wondering how is a quarterback rating calculated, here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Multiply completion percentage by a set factor.
- Multiply yards per attempt by another factor.
- Adjust touchdown percentage positively.
- Penalize interception percentage.
Note:
- ATT = Number of passing attempts
- CMP = Number of completions
- YDS = Passing yards
- TD = Touchdown passes
- INT = Interceptions
- If the result of any calculation is greater than 2.375, it is set to 2.375.
- But if the result is a negative number, it is set to zero.
The calculations done above are used to determine the passer rating or quarterback rating:
The formula combines these components and scales them to produce a final rating between 0 and 158.3.
You could also calculate the quarterback or passer rating using NFL Passer Rating Calculator.
What is the Highest Single-Season Quarterback Rating in NFL History?
- The highest single-season quarterback rating in NFL history is 122.5 which was achieved by Aaron Rodgers in 2011.
- His performance that year is still unmatched, combining efficiency, precision, and consistency.
Rodgers also delivered an incredible 121.5 passer rating in 2020, a season where he threw for:
- 4,299 passing yards
- 48 touchdowns
- Only 5 interceptions
This ranks as one of the best seasons ever, reinforcing his legacy.
Here is the Top 5 Single-Season Quarterback Ratings in NFL
i) Aaron Rodgers
(Green Bay Packers 2011) –122.5
ii) Aaron Rodgers
(Green Bay Packers 2020) – 121.5
iii) Peyton Manning
(Indianapolis Colts 2004) – 121.1
iv) Lamar Jackson
(Baltimore Ravens 2024) – 119.6
v) Nick Foles
(Philadelphia Eagles 2013) – 119.2
Conclusion
I hope this article has provided you with valuable information on what is a perfect quarterback rating or what is a good quarterback rating. Understanding this metric helps break down the complexities of quarterback performance.
Knowing how a quarterback rating is calculated and recognizing who has achieved greatness adds another layer to your football knowledge. Have got another set of question to ask just kick 
it in the comments below?
Whether it’s a regular-season milestone or a postseason masterpiece, a perfect quarterback rating signifies a truly exceptional performance. So the next time you see a quarterback achieve perfection, you’ll appreciate just how rare and extraordinary that moment is!
